This coming Sunday, July 29, we are having a special combined worship service followed by a picnic in the Life Center for our whole church family. The worship service starts at 10:00AM with no children, youth or adult classes that day, so we'll all be together. We'll worship together, celebrate baptisms together, and Pastor Kerry will begin his new sermon series called Impact.

The worship service will be followed immediately by our picnic in the Life Center. Now maybe you think you don't know very many East Side people. Maybe you're an introvert. Do you really want to go to this? Yes, you do. Here are 5 reasons why.

1. Hang out with your friends. Go ahead and call, text or email your friends and coordinate plans to all come. Probably between vacations, ballgames and who knows what else, you haven't much time to just sit and chat with your friends for a while. Here's your chance. And yes, it’s okay to invite someone who doesn’t go to East Side. What better way to introduce them to East Side.

2. Make a new friend or two. It's all going to be East Side people (plus maybe some extended family or friends or neighbors who get invited). The point is that you already have something in common with everyone there. So why not make a connection. Here's a suggested conversation starter: "Hi, I don't think I know you. What's your name?" Or, "Hi, I actually can't remember your name. Can I take another shot at that?"

3. The Menu. We have our best East Side cooks working on a picnic to blow you away. We'll have hamburgers, hot-dogs, mac & cheese, baked beans, salad, coleslaw, black bean and corn salsa and chips. And don’t forget lemonade, sweet tea and water to drink.

4. Games. After lunch there will be games for young and old. Try your hand at corn hole, inflatable bowling, jumbo ring toss and other games. This might be the time for a little competition among friends.

5. Desserts. While burgers, dogs, drinks and sides will be provided, we are asking everyone to pitch in a dessert. So imagine all the desserts that will be there! I'm getting a little sugar buzz just thinking about it.

So make up your mind to be there. Great worship. Great food. Great fun. Great day!